Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Impressions of looking at Appalachia

Shelby Lee Adams doesn't think of himself as a documentation but instead giving showing the way these people live. He feels betrayed by the media in the way they made his home town appear; the people feel the same way. Shelby is truly passionate about his home town and the people who live there. After traveling house to house with his uncle, the doctor, he learned to love the people like he did. He talks about low self-esteem of the people of the area with leads to problems. He has a true passion for what he does. This article sheds light on his side of the story. It really changed my opinion of Shelby Lee Adams. He really wants to be friends with the people and not just take exploit them. I like during his teaching he teaches his students to give a picture to the people that they take a picture of. This shows his passion for his work and the following quote summaries it.

“When embracing all of humanity, there is no elitism or poverty. If people in the hollers can do this, so can you, each in your own way. Photography is a powerful tool and I am one Kentuckian who is concerned about many of our people that some wish weren't here. I know my process is now reaching others.” –Shelby Lee Adams

He faces all lot of critics but I believe his work requires you knowing his story to fully understand it. His passion for his homeland and the people there is inspiring.

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